insideKENT Magazine Issue 36 - March 2015 | Page 68

HEALTH+WELLNESS

Ovarian Cancer
Awareness Month
In aid of Ovarian Cancer Awareness
Month this March, research charity,
Ovarian Cancer Action, has chosen the
theme 'Right to Know'.
Ovarian cancer isn’t as well-known as some
other female cancers, yet it is the fifth most
common – with more than 7,000 newly diagnosed
cases in the UK each year. The UK has one of
the lowest survival rates in Western Europe, with
a woman dying from ovarian cancer every two
hours, resulting in 4,300 deaths annually. Even
so, treatments for ovarian cancer haven’t
progressed much in the past 20 years.
Almost one in five (17%) women with ovarian
cancer carries a BRCA gene mutation. We all
have BRCA genes, but the likelihood of
developing ovarian cancer if you have a mutation
in one of these genes increases from one in 52,
to one in two.

This can mean that a woman has an 80% chance
of developing breast cancer in her lifetime and
a 35%-60% chance of developing ovarian cancer
in her lifetime.

they will refer you to your nearest genetics clinic
for genetic testing.

How do I know if I’m at risk?

A blood sample is required for BRCA gene
mutation tests. Ovarian Cancer Action
recommends that you attend a genetic
counselling session before your tests. This will
help to make an informed decision about what
to do next.

If you have just one relative with ovarian or breast
cancer this is likely to have happened by chance
and not due to an inherited gene mutation. You
may be at a higher risk of developing ovarian
cancer if:
• Two or more of your relatives who are blood
related to each other have had ovarian cancer
• There have been multiple cases of breast and/or
ovarian cancer in your family

What are BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes?
Can I be tested for BRCA 1/2 gene mutations?
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that prevent cells
from growing and dividing too rapidly. All of us
have two copies of these genes. Mutations in
these genes can cause cells to become abnormal
and grow in an uncontrolled way. Having a
mutation in one of these genes can increase a
woman’s risk of both breast and ovarian cancer.

What does the test involve?

Ovarian Cancer Action has created an online
BRCA risk assessment test; an online calculator
to help you explore your family history and make
an informed decision about whether you should
consider being tested for BRCA 1/2 gene
mutations. F